interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

[bythewaves]

Aye. Although with Father's temper... I do not know. Perhaps we would always have gone down this road. But it does not do to dwell on might-have-beens, I guess.

But we have strayed onto dark paths again, eh? My apologies.

[nerdeology]

It's alright. I feel like lately that's become almost inevitable. ...Anyway, I did ask.

[He'd be grateful for a subject switch, though.]

Are you new to the center, or do you visit often?

[bythewaves]

You did, I suppose! And my history is... not a pleasant one.

[ Maglor agrees and smoothly switches gears ]

No - in truth, I did not know that such a place existed! It is a kindly thought though, and I am glad to see it. What of yourself?

[nerdeology]

I help out sometimes, though not to any great degree.

[He points out the small carved shrine tucked away in the corner.]

That's a seraphim shrine. Sorey built it a while ago, and I did some work on it as well, but it felt a little self-serving so I let him handle the upkeep.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor looks over, curiously ]

Ah I see it. Does it help your health, to have it?

[nerdeology]

Not at all, actually. A seraph's health is tied to the vessel they choose for themselves- if it's pure and properly worshipped, they thrive, and so does the land around them. My vessel is Sorey himself.

[He flips a puzzle piece idly between his fingers, trying to find the edge where it belongs.]

There's no seraph officially tied to it, but Sorey still prays there all the time. It would be weird to get worshipped by him, so I could never use it for myself.

[bythewaves]

Hm. [ Maglor hums thoughtfully ]

That is risky for both you and Sorey, I imagine. There is no other alternative?

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo frowns tightly; yeah, that much is pretty obvious, and he can't deny the truth of it. Even so, and even after what happened to them, he can't not defend Sorey. It goes against the core of who he is.]

We've made mistakes, but we know what we did wrong, and we learned from it. There's no person or vessel that I'd trust more with my safety.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor looks at him searchingly and then nods, accepting ]

Only be careful, both of you. [ he murmurs ]

And if you need help, you need but ask. I would not loose either of you, if possible.

[nerdeology]

I can't blame you for feeling concerned. We gave everyone good reason to worry.

[Not only for their sake, of course. Lots of people were hurt in the wake of the chaos they'd caused. Even those who don't know them would have cause to be wary of them holding on to this power.]

I think, more than anything, giving up would be worse for both of us. This is part of who we are, now. To deny oneself is to welcome corruption.

[bythewaves]

[ he nods, accepting ]

That is true. I just dislike seeing you so unhappy.

[nerdeology]

It's not as if we enjoy it, ourselves.

[Sometimes it's all he can do not to drown in it.]

We'll need time. We've never experienced anything like this before. And grief is... it's very new to us.

[bythewaves]

No. [ Maglor agrees gently ]

I cannot imagine that you would. Grief is always new, even to those who have known it before - it comes in many guises. But it is easier borne with company - I am glad the two of you have each other.

[nerdeology]

Me too. I can't imagine... if I'd lost Sorey the way he...

[Ugh, it's hard to even say. He struggles with it for a long moment, then shakes his head.]

Forget it. What's important is that we're both here. Like you said, we have each other... it's a good thing.

[bythewaves]

It is. And do not feel you have to approach it all at once - I am glad, Mikleo, that you have each other. Take your time.

[nerdeology]

This isn't something we can rush, so I don't have much choice.

[In other words, he's going to.]

[bythewaves]

We always have a choice. [ Maglor says quietly, old and tired ]

Believe me, you have made the better one.

[nerdeology]

I have no cause to disagree.

[Going about things the wrong way is what got them in this mess, anyway. Lesson learned.]

That aside... it's nice to get back to work. I was worried there'd be a huge backlog waiting for me, but you all held the ship together just fine.

[bythewaves]

[ A soft hum of amusement ] Getting back to a normal routine does help, I have found.

And we tried! Fortunately, we have little to do, I think, save making sure nothing goes too awry on board.

[nerdeology]

I guess that's one of the factors of living here that is both pro and con... they don't force that much responsibility on us, in the grand scheme of things.

[bythewaves]

Aye - on the one hand it makes life... simple. Easy. On the other, it merely drives home how truly helpless we are.

[nerdeology]

I still don't like that helplessness, but... I'm learning to accept it. Maybe it gets easier over time.

[bythewaves]

I do not think it gets easier, but... it becomes bearable, perhaps, as you say. [ Maglor nods thoughtfully ]

Besides. They are, for the most part. Kind. [ He smiles a little wryly ] I have known far crueler captivities.

Although I am not entirely certain what to do about the... 'fan mail'?

[nerdeology]

[Ugh.]

I usually just burn them. Most of them are kind of creepy.

[And what does 'soymilk' have to do with anything?]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs helplessly ]

I do not understand many of mine, but I .... think they are meant to be compliments. Although I do not understand why they wish me to wear black leather.